May Newsletter

We
are a Christian community dedicated to doing God's work. God gathers
us in a loving and healing environment to explore the mystery of our
faith.

Pastor's
Perspective

May
2016

The
images of the Holy Spirit found in the Bible are many and varied. The
Spirit is understood as a source of awesome power which can
understandably evoke fear and trembling among those who encounter its
movement. We hear of the Spirit as fire, a strong wind, fierce and
all consuming flame, or experience it in a bush ablaze but not
consumed. Biblical story tells us of the Spirit which hovers,
vibrates, over the dark, watery abyss and becomes living Word and the
power which brings forth all creation. The narrative of Scripture
also reveals the Holy Spirit as gentle power, a “still small
voice,” or its subtle presence in the moment of conception with
Mary as her child Jesus receives the spark of life. And there are
other images and visions of the Holy Spirit presented in Scripture
beyond the few I've chosen. The point is, there is no single,
solitary defining image or vision of the Holy Spirit found in the
Bible. And when we consider the presence and movement of the Holy
Spirit that's exactly as it should be.

The
Holy Spirit is not contained. That may actually be a very difficult
concept to wrap one's head around. Spirit of God, it is something
which is unbounded, unconstrained, moving and revealing itself as it
chooses. Still, that does sound a lot like God's self given name to
Moses when he asks for a name at the burning bush. Recall, God says
God's name is “I WILL CAUSE WHAT I WILL CAUSE” (my translation
from the Hebrew text). The Holy Spirit interrupts what is experienced
as the set course of human events in a manner that alters life, in
previously unimaginable ways, to bring new life.

This
month we step into the experience of Spirit as we remember its power
on Pentecost Sunday, May 15. The Spirit reshapes a covenant people
from a very small band of banished, misunderstood, malcontents and
inept followers of Jesus into the wellspring and foundation of the
church. This all occurs in a most surprising and unexpected fashion.
I have little doubt that none present on that morning anticipated
what was about to occur. The Spirit took life as the disciples
understood it and turned it on its head. The world was never the same
again. What a surprise it must have been to encounter this moment as
one with Christ and one with the world.

Are
you willing to be surprised?

Peace,

Pastor
Mike

A
THOUGHT TO PONDER

Genesis 1:2
describes a state of dynamic disorder poised for the in-breaking of
order. With God's

breath suspended over the dark, turbid waters, the
stage is now set for a dramatically creative act, a